NATIONAL DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1939, Page 6

NATIONAL DEFENCE

PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL ENDORSED BY LEADER OF OPPOSITION. ALL IN AGE GROUPS URGED TO ENROL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, May 23. “The Prime , Minister’s statement on defence will cause a feeling of general relief among all sections of the community,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, commenting on Mr Savage’s appeal for volunteers. “The Prime Minister’s announcement goes far beyond anything previously suggested by the present Government as the minimum requirement for the defence of New Zealand,” said Mr Hamilton. “I cordially endorse and support the Prime Minister’s appeal and urge all those in the age groups concerned to enrol immediately. i “In my opinion, and without wishing in any way to 'detract from the Government’s proposals, the announcement could have gone further and provided for a system of universal training and preparation for the defence of New Zealand, instead of leaving our defence to the willing horses. “It must be clear to everyone that the training of personnel cannot be undertaken overnight. Modern warfare is a complicated and intricate science, and a long period of intensive training is necessary to give our defenders the best possible chance of protecting those who Hook to them for protection.” Mr Savage had stated that plans for the organisation of civilian population were under way, and Mr Hamilton presumed that those plans would be made public as soon as practicable. It was essential in a time of invasion for the non-combatant population to know and go quietly about it allotted tasks, thus, assuring maximum efficiency in the defence of the country. Mr Hamilton said he cordially agreed that the defence of New Zealand transcended all questions of party politics, and he thought the Prime Minister might easily have resisted the temptation to make party capital by his unfair comparison of the present Government’s defence expenditure during its term of office with the expenditure during the previous Government’s last year of office.

NEW OUTLOOK OPENED. “Much as ■we all dislike the very idea of even preparing for war, we have to face the stern realities of the present uncertain situation, and, if we do that, we cannot escape the conclusion that steps previously thought to be quite unnecessary are today urgently essential,” said Mr Hamilton. “Today we have to look upon training for defence as an essential part of the equipment of every young man in the community. We gave him a good education training in general knowledge to equip him for the battle of life, and we should now also equip him with ability to defend his country in its hour of need. “I am sure that if our entire youth population was given a thorough course in defence training under the most congenial conditions practicable, the inculcation of discipline and physical training involved and the teaching of its responsibilities to its country and to its fellow men, would immensely,. improve the citizenship and general outlook, the good health and physique of our people. “I cordially support the Prime Minister’s appeal, and hope that it will meet with the response its importance deserves and which the country’s needs demand.”